A proposal to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) in New York’s historic Chinatown has hit a speed bump as at least a quarter of the property owners have raised their voices in opposition.  Many of these owners had bid in opposition for a while but only recent has their cause been picked up by the mainstream local media.  While on its surface a BID aims to improve neighborhoods through cleaning projects and tourist promotion, many others see a far more sinister land grab with many small businesses forced out of the neighborhood by increasing rents and utility costs.&nb

For the average, non-Chinese outsider walking through downtown Flushing, Queens, the sights, smells and sounds are intimidating.  Few people view this neighborhood with a sense of adventure or an opportunity to learn and experience new cultures.  Instead, they see a crush of foreigners, a monolithic, unwelcoming presence that is overtly hostile to outsiders.  People with this mindset, that Flushing’s transformation into a majority Chinese and Korean ethnic neighborhood has turned it into a “foreign” land, are unwilling to accept newcomers to Flushing in any form.  A popu

Flushing - New York's other (and way way larger) Chinatown has seen a huge spike in Asian-American candidates running to represent it in public office.  With current city councilman John Liu running for the City Comptroller position, a there is now a ferocious primary fight to replace him.  Although the campaigning has at times turned ugly, it seems to have calmed down now with a better focus on issues rather than attacks.  The outcome is not yet apparent and no candidate will win the primary along ethnic lines.  The winner will have to appeal to the large C

John Choe has served as chief of staff for John Liu since 2002.  He is now running to replace his former boss who is running for NYC comptroller due to term limits.  Choe has received numerous endorsements from Queens County Democratic Party, NYS African-American Public Affairs Committee, Stonewall Democrats, Queens County Puerto Ricans for Political Action, and Jefferson Democratic Club.

In a very crowded field of both Asian and non-Asian American candidates, what distinguishes you from the pack?